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Discussions with the
Environment Agency to bring forward proposals for new flood defences took place. An Environment Agency report published in December 2007 had suggested that the town's flood walls needed improvement. Oldgate Bridge may need some structural changes made as it has a damming effect
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since the 1960s in
Morpeth meant that most water falling on the town would have drained directly to the river channel. Other tests investigating the catchment lag time (time lapse between the midpoint of storm rainfall and peak river level) indicate that the Wansbeck has a lag time of only 8 hours.
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and the
British Red Cross were among the emergency services involved in rescue and recovery operations over the weekend, as well as some local nurses, GPs, a pharmacist and school staff who volunteered once the news of the flood broke out. They worked through the night attending to those affected.
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The low pressure "Mattea" formed at the southern tip of
Greenland on 3 September, deepening to approximately 980hpa as it passed to the south of Ireland on 5 September. The low then remained in place over the UK before dissipating on 9 September. An occluded front associated with this low moved
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At the peak of the flood, Morpeth High Street (Bridge Street) was under 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) of water. Not since 1963 had the main street been flooded. The library suffered severe structural damage due to the heavy debris transported by the river. Such was the extent of the damage that
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Smails and Sons, a cornerstone of the
Morpeth community for over sixty years, was left completely out of stock. Early estimates suggested that damages could be over £40 million. The actual figure was much greater, with total losses estimated at £40 million. On Sunday 7 September, Morpeth
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In 1992, a record peak water level of 3.19 metres (10.5 ft) was recorded in the river channel. The 2008 flood level was 0.8 metres higher than this. However, there was not a flood event in 1992 as the defences successfully protected the town centre.
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of the
Wansbeck and Font showed that 99.9% of rain fall is converted into surface runoff. Because the soil was already saturated as a result of the wet summer, the effect of surface runoff was greatly enhanced. Furthermore, increased
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and County Hall. An error made by the
Environment Agency's warning system meant that 198 properties in the Middle Greens area of the town did not receive a flood warning. Fire fighters, ambulance crews, the
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between Friday 5 and
Saturday 6 September. Figures suggest that in Morpeth alone there was 86 millimetres (3.4 in) of rain compared to an average of 74 millimetres (2.9 in) for a month.
257:. Mr Healey was also in talks with insurance industry chiefs, discussing their plans for dealing with a large number of claims in affected areas as quickly and effectively as possible.
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253:, the Floods Recovery Minister, visited Morpeth. Official government aid was pledged to the local authority to help with costs of the disaster through the
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This means that any water falling in the catchment area would have been rapidly converted into channel flow by surface runoff and to a lesser extent by
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during flood events. An upstream reservoir to hold back flood water was also proposed. If successful, improvements could be made by 2011.
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Nearly one thousand properties in
Morpeth's town centre were directly affected by the flood water. Among the businesses there, the
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Previous flooding events occurred in 1863, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1881, 1886, 1898, 1900, 1903, 1924, 1963 and 1968 (Cotting Burn).
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made an official visit on Friday 12 September, during which they inspected the damage and spoke with victims of the flood.
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and the Red Cross launched the
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Many residents were forced from their homes, and lived in caravans or with relatives as rebuilding took place.
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Morpeth Lions Club aimed to raise £100,000 for payment to those affected by the flooding without insurance.
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During 6 September 2008, more than 400 residents were evacuated. Shelter was provided in the Town Hall,
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The River Wansbeck Valley is narrow and steep and as a consequence has exaggerated amounts of
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slowly north across the UK producing flash flooding across the Midlands and the North. The
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High Ford Weir destroyed by the flood (14 September 2008).
358:"Flood clean-up operation begins" Monday 8 September 2008
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Weaver, Matthew; Wainwright, Martin (8 September 2008).
385:'Morpeth a scene of devastation' Sunday 7 September 2008
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structural engineers were required to test its safety.
373:, Wansbeck and Blyth Catchment Flood Management Plan
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310:"Klassische Wolkenstruktur von Tief 'Mattea'"
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299:"Worst on Record" Thursday 11 September 2008
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146:recorded 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of
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400:"Flood damage to cost 'tens of millions'"
105:occurred on Saturday 6 September 2008 in
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419:"Morpeth Flood Appeal tops £20,000",
42:St George's Church and Telford Bridge
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1727:2008 disasters in the United Kingdom
1722:2000s floods in the United Kingdom
332:"England struck by flash flooding"
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44:at 1332 BST on 6 September 2008.
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1681:Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum
1645:St Robert of Newminster Church
515:United Kingdom weather records
425:, Wednesday 10 September 2008.
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498:Climate of the United Kingdom
921:North Sea and Irish Sea 2013
312:(in German). donnerwetter.de
249:On Monday 8 September 2008,
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766:Holmfirth 1738, 1777, 1944
195:King Edward VI High School
1696:Rail accidents at Morpeth
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1691:Northumbrian Gathering
811:November–December 2009
485:Weather events in the
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137:Meteorological history
52:Meteorological history
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184:Effects and responses
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756:Bristol Channel 1607
733:Yorkshire Dales 2019
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626:February–March 2018
273:Duchess of Cornwall
83:approx. £40 million
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992:October 2022
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878:Storm surges
728:Morpeth 2008
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695:Flash floods
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786:Thames 1947
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738:London 2021
635:Snow events
621:Spring 2013
269:Charles III
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217:ironmongers
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1711:Categories
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1008:hurricanes
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279:References
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168:confluence
125:Background
71:Fatalities
1519:Disputed
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944:July 1968
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334:. BBC
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591:1987
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